Christmas 2015, Our Favorite Things

November 28, 2015

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The Christmas season is upon us. Bill, the kids, and I will be driving out to visit the Christmas tree farm this weekend; the decorations will be brought out from storage; and the sounds of Christmas music will be heard throughout the house. As the shopping season begins, We wanted to share some of our favorite gift ideas. The products have been tested, used, and enjoyed by us or our dog, Glory. It was fun putting the list together and we hope they will help you cross off one or more Christmas presents this season.

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1 — Wide vacuum insulated Klean Kanteen $24.95, keeps content hot up to 6 hours. Easy to use and clean. I like the variety of colors they offer, especially white.

2 — Starbucks Christmas Blend has become a part of our Christmas tradition. We look forward to be able to enjoy it during the holiday season and to give as gifts. 1 lb-whole bean $14.95, 24 K-Cup packs $24.95, 12 VIA instant $11.95.

16— The Hobbit Trilogy Extended Edition $99.98 was released on November 17th. We have not seen the extended versions, but are looking forward to watching all three Hobbit adventures again. For a recap of the story click, here.

17— The Tale of Three Trees: A Traditional Folktale $14.99 is not a traditional Christmas children’s book. The story is about three trees that grew to become the manger, a boat and the cross of Jesus Christ. It’s a great children’s book to be enjoyed year round.

This is typical northwest winter weather with cloud covered sky and sprinkling of rain throughout the day. A good sturdy umbrella is always handy to have around. Often times it’s an afterthought purchase and the cheapest will do. I highly recommend purchasing a high-quality umbrella, it will change how you look at them. You will have confidence walking in the wind and rain. It’s also quite stylish. The umbrella I have was purchased many years ago and no longer available. The ones in the above list from London Undercover and duncan quinn are similar.

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Hot drinks in insolated mugs and tumblers are great ….especially for a slow coffee drinker like me that likes the first and the last sip to be just as hot. There are many great ones out there to choose from. I didn’t mention Bill’s camouflage coffee tumbler on the list because it’s no longer available. The Klean Kanteen products are great and we like the simple design, easy to clean parts, and the variety of colors and styles to choose from.

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When it comes to purchasing a new pair of shoes or boots, it can be a little investment. When I gave Bill his Hunter boots as a gift fifteen or maybe twenty years ago, that was a big purchase. They have truly paid off and have been well used over the years. My slip on clogs from Trask are new this year. They are my everyday go-to footwear to keep my feet warm and comfortable. The little extra platform is great to keep the rain water away and my ideal alternative to wearing boots. The last pair of clogs I had were made by Ugg, loved them I wore them almost everyday, the fussy shearling lining almost disappeared. A good quality pair of shoes or boots will last a long time and well worth a little investment.

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With our coffee and latte in hand, an umbrella to shelter from the rain, boots and clogs to keep our feet dry, we are ready to get on with the day.

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2 Responses to Christmas 2015, Our Favorite Things

I squealed with delight as I saw my son and his beautiful wife featured on this edition of your blog! Great pictures, really thoughtful and useful gift ideas. Exactly the kind of material I expect to see on White Gunpowder!
Thanks for the treat!